BEHIND!!!

Seriously the story of my blogging~I am SO behind! Right after the previous post I was getting things ready for the girls' birthdays, birthday party and our consignment sales. Then there were the holidays and then my dad's accident and hospitalization. Goodness time does really fly by when you get older!!! I update on Facebook and often forget to update on our blog but I think this will be really neat for me in the coming years to read back on as well for my children. Especially with my friend telling me this could be printed out as a book. So back to blogging I go....

One year later

It is so hard to believe that one year ago we were in the hospital getting ready to leave with our sweet baby girl. Ryleigh Harper turned a year old on August 2nd at 7:54 am. It has flown by. I wish I could slow it down and have my baby girl forever but knowing that is impossible, I will just enjoy each stage as it comes. I realized that I never blogged about Ryleigh's birth day and wanted to be sure to document the special day even though it is a year later.

Dr. Wideman scheduled for me to be induced at 39 weeks since Maycie Grace was a 9 pound baby and most often 2nd babies are larger. We were scheduled to go into the hospital on Sunday, August 1st at 9pm. We spent the weekend preparing for our new little one and spending time with Maycie-Grace. We were excited to see if they Lord blessed us with a boy or a girl. Daddy thought a boy and I thought a girl. We left home that afternoon and drove to Cullman for a "Last Supper" at Sweet Peppers and then went to my sister Andrea's house. We enjoyed the afternoon with Hank, Andrea, Carletta, Maycie Grace, Jack & Reed. Okay I was nervous, very nervous. I kept watching the clock and felt anxious knowing that I had to check in at 9. Finally when the time came we made sure Maycie Grace was situated and headed to the hospital.

We were late checking in because I was so nervous. I remember Jeremiah and I walking up to the hospital and saying "No turning back now". It was a beautiful warm summer evening. It was just so peaceful walking up to the hospital. I remember pushing the button and feeling nervous to say "I am Jessica Nolen and I am here to be induced". It was the point of no return! We checked in and I changed into the fashionable gown. They told me to get some rest and that they would be in at midnight to start the induction. I didn't get much sleep because I kept going to the restroom because I knew once my water broke, I would not be able to leave the bed. I did the same exact thing with Maycie Grace. Not sure why that made me feel better but it did. They came to the room at midnight like they promised and the induction began. She told me she would be back at 4am to check me and if need be, continue with the medicine for induction. I assumed I would have a similar experience as with Maycie Grace's labor where I was induced at midnight and made no progress by 9am when Dr. Wideman arrived. Well to my surprise when she came in at 4am, she said "Whoa, no more medicine for you. I need to call Dr. Wideman". I could tell it was progressing then because I could feel contractions. They were not bad and then they became a little harder to take but I was still able to handle it. She offered pain medication and said Dr. Wideman said I could go ahead and get an epidural since I was at 4cm. I declined and said I could wait a bit longer. Well about 30 minutes went by and the contractions were rough. I asked for the epidural and they had to call in the on call anesthesiologist. I was in pain and the time between contractions was decreasing. I couldn't talk or think about anything during the contraction. All I could do was lie on my left side and hold on to the bed rail and breath with my eyes closed. I then asked the nurse how long it would be for the anesthesiologist to arrive and she said about 15 minutes and offered medication in the meantime. I accepted! When she was getting ready to give me the medication to take the edge off, I remember looking at Jeremiah all snug on the little couch (as snug as you can be on those couches) and I was hurting. I looked at him and said "You better have your shoes on, ready to run out of this room when she arrives!". I did NOT want any small talk, I wanted relief! So she gave me the medicine and it took the edge off. Still painful but not as severe. I was told I was at 6cm and could hear the nurse telling Jeremiah "She is having a bad one" and all I could do was breath and tell myself I was okay. My nurse must have told the other nurses that I was anxiously waiting on the doctor to arrive because one ran in and said she had just pulled up at the hospital and was walking in. I looked at Jeremiah and he gave me a kiss and left the room. By this time, I was SEVERELY drugged. The medicine they gave me to take the edge off was a lot for me! I do not take medicine often so it was  something else. I could barely sit still while she was talking to me and giving me the epidural. I was still in pain but was out of it. I kept telling the nurse that I felt out of it. I had one last contraction as the doctor gave me the epidural and then it was relief. I felt drowsy and just wanted to close my eyes. It was now close to 6:30 and we asked the nurse how long she thought it would be, expecting probably 10 or so, and she replied "Probably within the hour". Jeremiah called my sisters to wake them and we decided he should run to get breakfast. Dr. Wideman came in and bragged on my progress from the 1st pregnancy (freaked out at 1cm with Maycie-Grace and had an epidural & then refused an epidural until 6cm with Ryleigh) and then was laughing at me because I just kept on telling everyone I was out of it. I remember telling him (and then EVERYONE over & over again) that I was dropping beneath the level of the ground and could see the ants walking around. LOL  Anyway I remember him telling me I was ready. I asked how long and he said about 30 minutes. I said said "30 minutes until I start pushing?" and he said "No you will be holding a baby in 30 minutes". So we called Jeremiah to rush back to the room and make sure my sisters and mom were on their way. They came in and I was ready to push. I told them I couldn't and Dr. Wideman said "Yes you can" and I tried and looked at Andrea and said "I don't think I can" and she pushed me up and I held it for 10 counts. We did this 2 more times and I heard my sweet baby cry. There was a pause and then I heard Dr. Wideman say "IT'S A...GIRL". I was so happy!!!! We were all crying. I was still out of it but will always remember holding her for the very first time.


We were all in love and spent the next two days holding and loving on her. We enjoyed all of our visitors and had such a great time. Everyone brought sweet gifts and Andrea even through us a little shower with yummy snacks and gifts for all of the kids. I had the sweetest nurses that were so helpful. Maycie Grace enjoyed spending time with my family while were in the hospital. When she came to see us, she brought me a princess balloon. She sat on the bed with me & Ryleigh. She didn't pay a whole lot of attention to Ryleigh because she was still and sleeping but as soon as Ryleigh stretched, Maycie Grace's eyes were HUGE. She loved her baby sister!!! It was really nice to spend the time with Jeremiah without having to be concerned with cleaning the house, preparing meals, etc. Such a sweet memory!!!

Each night we sent Ryleigh to the nursery so that we could get some sleep because we knew what was ahead. I had them bring her to me for feeding. Each time I would hear a baby screaming its head off coming down the hall and it was mine! The nurses called her a tiger and said she gave them no warning at all. She would be sleeping so peacefully and then scream her head off. SO funny because she is still the same way today. She will be sleeping soundly one moment and the next moment screaming her head off!!!

We loved her to pieces from the moment we laid eyes on her. I can not believe it has been a year already but it has been a wonderful year full of many blessings! Its odd because I remember before she was born wondering how in the world I would ever love another child like I did Maycie Grace.I didn't think it was possible but it was.  My heart grew so big that day!!! She is my sweet little Ryleighbug.

 A sweet memory~Maycie-Grace & Ryleigh listening to music. We did this often. This was the last time we did it before heading to the hospital that evening.

 Our little tradition.

 Proud sister!

McWane

We recently visited McWane with friends. We have a membership but don't go as often as we should. Maycie Grace really enjoys it so I always question why I have not taken her more but then again it is a 45 minute drive. We had a full day of fun and the girls barely made it to the interstate before they were out! Nothing like a quiet drive home (getting to listen to music instead of a DVD) after a full day at McWane.

 Sadie, Somer & Maycie-Grace playing in the water

 Ryleigh loved her new little friend!I get tickled when I see this picture. She was smiling and laughing!

 Maycie-Grace in a bubble. The bubble station is neat.

 Ziplining! Maycie Grace is pretty cautious so I was surprised when she wanted to do it & continued to do it.

 My beautiful little girl.

 My other beautiful girl. People all the time tell us that we will have trouble in the years to come. I don't know who is going to be more scary for the boys, their daddy or me?!?! :)

 Somer Ziplining

 Somer

 Somer

Sadie

Tree Top

We recently went to Tree Top Adventures on 280. Jeremiah wanted to take Maycie Grace so we went one Saturday. I quickly realized it was probably him wanting to go too when he had to convince her to ride the go carts with him (which she loved after they were going) and then made a point to "win her tickets" so that she could get a good prize. He said he was just checking the games for how many tokens it took but I did catch him playing a few games while she was in the play area. The place is a lot of fun for kids and even had a little section for Ryleigh to play in. Not to mention, it was CLEAN. That says a lot for child's play area!!

 Ryleighbug watching daddy & sissy ride the go cart.

 Her first game "catching the popcorn". She puts her hands in her mouth when she is nervous. We didn't understand what made her nervous with this game!

 Lots of tickets!!! She caught a lot of popcorn!

 She is a great bowler!

 Playing in the baby area.

 It was hard for her to slide with those chubby legs!! 

All of prizes. I think we spent $30 and she got a friendship bracelet,

Snow White ring, candy & an army man. A great trade off! ;) Oh but to see her smile!! :)

4th of July Weekend

I REALLY enjoy long weekends! It just seems like the typical weekend flies by too quickly and Jeremiah is back at work. I had originally wanted to go to the beach for the 4th but since we had only been home from the beach 2 weeks and Ryleigh sleeping like she did while we were there, we decided to stay home. Jeremiah did have a great idea! He decided to dig a small fire-pit by our house. Thankfully we live in the perfect neighborhood in my opinion. It was a compromise for Jeremiah and I. He wanted to live in a neighborhood and I would have been pleased to live out on our own with a nice house and a little bit of land (not a lot of land just enough to have some space). Our neighborhood was God answering both of our prayers. The moment we drove up, I wanted to live here! We have the benefit of having similar houses with nice yards and children to play with BUT we have a little land so that made me happy!! We do have restrictions in our neighborhood so I am sure they may not want us to dig a fire-pit in our wooded area but I think everyone here is laid back and just want their kids to have great childhoods. We are blessed!

I grew up on Smith Lake and we always camped at Goat's Island. Great memories! I really like to roast hot dogs and marshmallows. As I have gotten older, the thought of camping as been less appealing so this was the perfect thing for our family! I did suggest getting a tent for Jeremiah & Maycie Grace and that I would stay inside with Ryleigh! ;0    So we cooked our dinner each night of the 4th of July weekend over our fire. We then ended the night with smores. Jeremiah even attempted a "scary story" that was tailored to Maycie Grace's age. It included Winnie The Pooh so I was able to sleep that night. There is nothing that I enjoy more than spending time with my family. It is what life is all about!!!

 

Our first water balloons. It is amazing the excitement for just $1! 

 A little pool time.

 Hotdogs!

 Marshmallows!

 Smores!

And our little Ryleighbug eating her first corn on the cob!

Beach Pictures

A trip to the beach is not complete without beach portraits! ;)   I was wondering how tough it would be to get 2 kids to smile at the same time but thankfully it took about 5 minutes total for all of the pictures. It probably had to do with the experience Jeremiah and I have! LOL I take the pictures and he acts silly behind me. We make a great team and we have "ironed out our kinks"! :)

Our sweet girls:

Seeing their love for each other reminds me of me & my sisters. Maycie Grace & Ryleigh are the sweetest things I have EVER seen together! 

The many expressions of Ryleighbug:

 Someone thinks momma & daddy are funny!

 

 I love pictures when people do not know you are taking them.

 Love seeing him with our girls. They think he hung the moon!

 My three loves!

Having FUN!!!